What was big in ‘75?
At the height of the ‘seventies bike boom, the London Show of 1975 at Earl’s Court was bursting at the seams with the latest offerings. Here are a few of the standouts, from Gary Reid’s archives. CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: Kenny Roberts’ TZ700 – yours for the bargain price of just £3,000 (including VAT) – or perhaps a new TZ7500 engine for £1,600?; 1975 Production TT winning H1 Kawasaki – the TT Production rules were a lot looser than ours; Ducati Mark 3 – one of the last singles?; Bike parking outside the Earl’s Court Show. And not a drip tray in sight; Laverda GTL 750 on Slater Bros’ stand.
Mount Conner, at least listened to our plight and went off to find someone else. Next came Lyndee, Peter Severin’s son Ashley’s wife, and listened to what we were hoping to achieve. She was quite agitated that the shop staff had no knowledge of Bankin, his grave, and Mount Conner, and stated they would have a history lesson, and that in future, visitors enquiring about Bankin or Mount Connor, would be given the information – with the decent respect to Bankin and the Severin family – that was very much deserved.
Lyndee departed and shortly after Ashley came in and asked “who are these two old blokes asking about Bankin?” Introductions given, Ashley explained that Mount Conner was off limits due to a recent bushfire that also destroyed the fence around Bankin’s grave. Also, to get to the grave and back would take most of a day and they didn’t have the staff to spare. But, would we like to see Bankin’s bike? “Would we ever” I said, and we followed Ashley out to a shed where a young fellow was wheeling the bike out of its hiding place where it’s well covered and hidden from view. I’ve attached photos of the 1935 Triumph 3/1 350cc Side Valve Motor Cycle which is pretty well as found where it was bogged by the site where Bankin died. There are a few bits missing, such as the water and fuel drum carriers, but the one thing missing that
Ashley would dearly like to get is a correct gear lever knob, so if anyone can help please contact Ashley via email: enquiries@curtinsprings.com, Post: Curtin Springs, Via Alice Springs, NT, 0872, Ph: (08)8956 2906; Fax: (08)8956 2934. And if you are heading through on your way to Yulara or to WA they do have a motel as well as a camping ground. Ashley told us about the area where Bankin’s body, and the bike, were found and Lyndee showed us a slide-show on the computer of the area, Mount Conner, Bankin’s grave and the group of people who built and erected the grave, cairn and fence, and the Severin family who own the area. Ashley also told us of a group of riders on large, shiny road motorcycles who once called in and said “we’re going to visit the grave and which way is it?” and then being quite agitated when told it was “on private property, out of bounds and, even if you could go, who will collect the pieces of your bikes that fall off on the way?”
Ashley is a big man, his hands are large and hard, and his handshake would probably crack a beer bottle. They decided to head for Yulara instead! Ashley mentioned the bike runs well and he had used it for a while as a station bike. His ambition is to eventually have it out the front of the Road House in a steel cage with an information board for people to see and learn about one of our earliest motorcycle adventurers. I’m sure having met Ashley (ever so briefly), the cage will probably hold a Rhino! Until it does surface again, however, it’s now off limits. We were definitely privileged, and humbled by the experience, and I would like to thank Carmel Taig (Dick Duckworth’s daughter), Peter Whitaker for his article, advice and my pestering, and the Severin family for their hospitality. Two old blokes were very, very, happy.
Much of Peter’s information was researched via Dick Duckworth’s book on Bankin, the title of the book being: Ellis Matthewman Bankin. Outback Motorcyclist Who Perished. Author: R.N. Duckworth.